Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
The main networks:
AIS (1 2 Call)
(
www.ais.co.th/12call/th
)
DTAC
(
www.dtac.co.th
)
TrueMove
(
www.truemove.com
)
Time
»
Thailand is seven hours ahead of GMT/UTC. Thus, noon in Bangkok is 9pm the previous night in Los Angeles,
midnight the same day in New York, 5am in London, 6am in Paris, 1pm in Perth and 3pm in Sydney. Times are an hour
later in countries or regions that are on Daylight Saving Time (DST). Thailand does not use daylight saving.
»
The official year in Thailand is reckoned from the Western calendar year 543 BC, the beginning of the Buddhist
Era (BE), so that AD 2014 is 2557 BE, AD 2015 is 2558 BE etc. All dates in this topic refer to the Western calendar.
Toilets
»
If you don't want to pee against a tree like the túk-túk drivers, you can stop at any shopping centre, hotel or fast-
food restaurant for facilities. Shopping centres typically charge 3B to 5B for a visit.
»
In older buildings and wát you'll still find squat toilets, but in modern Bangkok expect to be greeted by a throne.
»
Toilet paper is rarely provided, so carry an emergency stash. Even in places where sit-down toilets are installed,
the septic system may not be designed to take toilet paper. In such cases there will be a waste basket where you're sup-
posed to place used toilet paper and feminine hygiene products. Many toilets also come with a small spray hose - Thail-
and's version of the bidet.
Tourist Information
Bangkok has two organisations that handle tourism matters: the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for countrywide
information, and Bangkok Information Center for city-specific information. Also be aware that travel agents in the train
station and near tourist centres co-opt 'T.A.T.' and 'Information' as part of their name to lure in commissions. These
places are not officially sanctioned information services, but just agencies registered with the TAT. So how can you tell
the difference? Apparently it's all in the full stops - 'T.A.T.' means agency; 'TAT' is official.
